Pic of my Mom!

not sure what the thing above her head is, but she didn't have a horn!

How Weird is This!?

Libbey Cavalcade 50's glasses

Okay, so I have these cute glasses listed in my shop!  Today I happened to be searching for pictures and stuff for my daughter, Katherine's graduation party. 

While searching, I found this school project that was my Mom's from the 50's!  I don't know how I got it, I've never seen it before.  Flipping through it, I saw a Mixmaster that I have (just haven't listed it yet), but the coolest thing, was that for her everyday glasses, she wanted the Libbey Cavalcade pony glasses!  The ones I have listed in my shop!  I didn't know the name of these until my Mom helped me out with her school project!

The glasses I have listed (on far right) I'm going to have to search for the others she wanted!

My Mom's name was Mona, but she went by the name "Pat" in high school!

I wish my Mom was still here, we'd have a good laugh about this (we laughed a lot together).  You never know, she just might be laughing in heaven right now!

Thanks Mom!! Love ya!

Your daughter, Jennifer (she always called me Jennifer)!

Just Words

Skyline Jewelry

Words can be so powerful!

I try my hardest these days to choose my words carefully, and use them for good!

You never know when you might just make someone's day, maybe they're having a bad day, and there you are, to cheer them up!

Things are a bit slow on Etsy right now, and then I received the sweetest "tweet" (you know I love Twitter)! Here's the tweet:  "So glad I visted Jenscloset's Etsy shop...Beautiful vintage finds and such beautiful photos!  So well done, I love this shop!".  Wouldn't that make your day!?  

Check out http://www.skylinejewelry.etsy.com/ for gorgeous handmade quality jewelry, and a super sweet shop owner!

I love this necklace from Skyline Jewelry!



I've had some other sweet convos such as this one:

"I'm a very busy mommy of my own 4 & 1 stepchild.   I work from home.  I homeschool.  I don't have a lot of time to "play" on Etsy.  I say ALL that to let you know...it is a BIG deal for me to take time out of my busy day to contact another seller JUST to tell them how MAGNIFICENT their shop is...but YOU have a MAGNIFICENT SHOP :)  And that deserves kudos!"

and this one:

"Hi, I just wanted to thank you for sending the cornflower blue plate...It was wrapped so beautifully.  It's clear that you take pride in your business and making your customers feel special.  Thank you so much!  I am beyond pleased with the awesome service you provided us."

"must have" earrings from Skyline Jewelry

I am not telling you about these convos to brag, but to show you how powerful words can be.  Why not try to lift someone's spirit's today!?

Thank you Skyline Jewelry, you have lifted my spirits today!

Jen

Hi Shirley!

Sometimes you wonder if anyone reads your blog!

I just had one of the highest forms of flattery!  My 18 year old daughter, Katherine, just told me her darling friend, Shirley, reads my blog, and likes it!

Shirley is the epitome (I had to look that word up, I really thought it was spelled epitomy) of style!  Always looks cute, not only that, but she has a great personality and a great sense of humor!

Adorable Shirley on the left (Julia on the right)

Thanks for reading my blog Shirley!!

Jen aka Mrs B

Photography

I'm constantly learning what works when it comes to taking pictures of my vintage items from my Etsy shops!

I have come a long way from when I started my first shop in 2008, but still have trouble with certain things, such as clear glass!

Footed Tumblers from Hazel Atlas



As you can see by the above picture, not so great!  I did go ahead and list these, but I need help!  I know one thing that would help is to have something darker to contrast with the clear glass.  I have some of my favorite shops that are on the front page so often (one reason being, they're great photography)!  I have studied those quite often, and am trying to "tweak" mine.  I don't want to copy exactly what they do, but at least get some ideas!

I usually take my pictures in my "photography studio".  Don't be impressed, it's my little foyer at the front door of our house!

I also have a light box that my daughter, Lindsey, made me, which is good for smaller items like jewelry.

The camera I've been using is a Canon PowerShot SD790LS (or is that IS?).  I'm thinking of upgrading, so would love any input from you out there!

I've also been collecting vintage clothes to add to my shop.  That's another place I need help with my photography.  My favorite model, Katherine (happens to be my daughter), has been kind enough to spend some of her time modeling the clothes, but I just don't like the way the pictures look (nothing to do with Katherine!).  I've also studied some of my favorite vintage clothes shop, and I especially like the simpler shots. 

Cute dress, great model!



This is such a cute dress, but my bad photography does not do it justice!  So I'll be working on this before I list any of the cute clothes I have!

Help!!

Jen

Baby Birds!

This was the best shot I could get of the baby birds that are on our air conditioning unit!  Since this picture was taken (yesterday) 2 of the 3 babies have flown from the nest!  I keep peeking in on the 3rd one, who looks quite comfortable in the nest still!  But I can only peek really quick, because the Mom is not from him and comes back to yell at me everytime!

We have central air conditioning, but our house is pretty old, and our master bedroom was an add on, and since we can't get the central air in the master bedroom and the room behind that (it's a strange set up, not sure why they built it the way they did, it's an entire other bedroom, but can only get to it from the door attached to our bedroom, but it was great as a nursery when our kids were babies, and now, my husband has turned it into an entire walk in closet for me).  Yes I digress as usual.  What was I talking about?

Oh, the baby birds.  Actually, I was leading up to heat, and how I can't handle the heat (age/woman thing), so I'm hoping baby fly's away soon, so I can turn on the air conditioning unit, but since he looks pretty comfortable, not sure when it's going to happen!

Well, he's cute, and right now I have a little fan on my nightstand to keep me alive!

I'm hoping he's not like some kind of mooch kid who will never leave home!

Jen

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is the start of backyard barbeques and other outdoor fun!

But what it really is, is a day to remember all of those who have sacrificed for us.  My heart breaks to here about those fathers, mothers, sons, brothers, sisters, who have died fighting for us.

Parades are a way to honor those who have sacrificed for us

Christopher Thibodeau, from Northeast Ohio, was only 28 years old recently in a helicopter crash.  He's a son, a husband, and his wife is 5 weeks pregnant.

Christopher Thibodeau



I do not personally know Christopher, but I can tell from that smile, he was a good person.

I sincerely appreciate all of those that do so much for our country, including the families, as they also sacrifice so much.

Sincerely,

Jen

Where does the time go!?

I know I'm getting old, when I start saying "where has the time gone" way too often!

I just took a picture of my baby, Katherine this morning on our porch (yes, it's a very old porch with a rusty old railing)! 

Today is Katherine's last day of high school!

Katherine's 1st day of Kindergarten



The time did seem to go by so quick (or quickly-Katherine would correct me which one is right).  Believe me, there were plenty of times when I thought time would never move on, especially when Katherine and her brother Mark (they're just 14 months apart) were fighting, constantly!  Now they're actually friends!

But now it's Katherine's last day of high school.  I'm proud of her!  She's a good person!  She even had thank you notes for all of her teachers (looked like long letters, but she wouldn't let me read them)! 

Congratulations Katherine!  I love you!

My baby, Katherine!



Congratulations to all the graduates, and to their parents!

Jen

Gifts from India

I received the most amazing box of gifts from India just now!  Thanks so much to Vanita!  Vanita is from India and has been purchasing jewelry from my Etsy shop for awhile now.  I've had so much fun wrapping up her purchases so it was like she was receiving a gift!

Come to find out, she loves to wrap too!  Vanita told me she was going to send me some things representing India, but I had no idea that she would send all of these beautiful items!

Vanita even put notes with each item explaining the meaning!

Gifts from Vanita

This first picture shows a gorgeous beaded handbag in the background.  My picture of the earrings does not do them justice!  The earrings of from the Land of Rajashan (forgive me, Vanita, if I don't spell everything correctly!).  I really love the Elephant God!  He is supposed to bring prosperity, good luck, and wealth!

fun fun!



Each of my gifts came in a beautiful cloth bag!  The wooden elephant pendant is from the South of India.  These beautiful pair of anklets Minakari (from Laipur.

Stunning!

Check out the ring and bracelet connectors in the background!  Again, my pictures do not do them justice!  These are typically worn at weddings and festive occasions.  The elaborate brooch on the left side is the Laipur Royal Rajasthan (sorry my spelling might not be perfect) Brooch, normally worn on turbans, but since I don't have a turban, I'll definitely find somewhere to wear it!  The pretty earrings on the right are from Delhi, Lotus earrings, and one of Vanita's favorites!

Thank you a thousand times to Vanita!!  What a thoughtful and sweet person!!

Jen 

I made it!

By now you should know I'm not the craftiest of people!  That's not to say I don't try now and then! 

My Mom could do everything!  And everything she tried she perfected!  She won many blue ribbons for her knitted afghans!  She owned a needlepoint shop in the 70's called "Nasty Needles"!  She did oil paintings, decoupage, sewed outfits for us girls, and so much more!

So the talent skipped me, and went directly to my daughters, Katherine and Lindsey!  Katherine creates the most amazing handmade greeting cards!  She's also made the cutest duct tape handbags, and actually had an Etsy shop called "Inspired Bags" when she was about 10! 

My older daughter Lindsey is amazing!  She truly has all of my Mom's talents!  She started making jewelry when she was quite young, can't remember the exact age she started selling directly to a couple of local shops!  We then did jewelry parties, which really was a fun way to make good money!  She has a fashion design degree, and can create the most gorgeous outfits! 

Then there's me! I can do basic stuff, sewing, and I've done a bit of knitting, crocheting, etc., but nothing that I perfected!

So that is why I love my "Jenny's crappy craft" segment!

But I must say, I do love these pretty cake stands!  So easy to make using a lovely vintage plate and a brass or crystal candleholder as a base!  Just get some special glass glue and you've created something like mine!

I kind of got inspired again, since I just sold one in my china shop!

and here's the one I made yesterday-let it dry overnight!

There's a more secure way of making these, which involves a drill-not going to happen for me!  I'll stick with glue!

Jen